MELROSE — Chief Michael Lyle is pleased to announce that approximately 160 children completed the Melrose Police Department’s Junior Academy this summer.
The Junior Academy is a free, one-week program, and the Melrose Police Department held three sessions this summer from June 24-28, July 8-12 and July 15-19. The program was open to children ages 10-13.
Cadets took part in physical activities crafted to promote team work, and also to test for speed, focus and physical ability. During the academy, members of the Melrose Police Department also taught cadets about investigations, K-9 operations, mountain bike functions, nutrition, physical health, detective functions, patrol procedures, traffic, bullying, drugs and cyber safety.
Sergeant Charles Byrne served as the director of the academy, and the day-to-day operations of the program were also overseen by School Resource Officer Jim Applegate, Officer Alan Brown and School Resource Officer Rob Mann. Lessons to cadets were led by Sgt. Jon Goc, Detective Sgt. Paul McNamara, Detective Dan Ehlers, Officer Joe Donovan, Officer Mike Plumer, Detective Greg Forestell, K-9 Officer Brian Trainor, Officer Nik MacIntosh and Officer Dan Riordan.
Firefighter LT. Brian Moran, of the Melrose Fire Department, also gave a lesson to cadets in the academy this summer.
“The Junior Academy is a great opportunity for us to teach young residents about law enforcement, and to reinforce safety habits at a young age,” Chief Lyle said. “It also allows cadets to get to know members of the police department in an engaging, fun setting. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Junior Academy possible; it took a lot of work, and was a great success.”
The Melrose Police Department wishes to give a special thank you to Dominic Ternullo and his wife, Fabiano, of G and T Auto Body for supplying each class with complementary refreshments. The department also wishes to thank the counselors and staff from Melrose High School and Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School who volunteered their time to support the academy, as well as the Melrose Fire Department, Pat Casey Printing, Stephen’s Towing and Pro Am Enterprises.
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